Information for patients receiving ambulatory antimicrobial therapy

Patients receiving ambulatory antimicrobial therapy (oral or parenteral), and their carers, should be educated and provided with written information explaining their treatment, including:

• how to recognise progression of the infection and complications of therapy (eg pain, redness or swelling around the intravenous access site, rash, diarrhoea, fever), and who to contact if these occur
• contact details for the ambulatory antimicrobial therapy service, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Patients receiving ambulatory parenteral antimicrobial therapy, and their carers, should also receive information about:

• the antimicrobial product, including expiry date and storage instructions. If the product needs refrigeration, it should be stored in the body of the fridge away from the door, and not in the freezer
• how to care for the infusion while it is running, for example:
  • store in the pouch or ‘bum bag’ provided
  • at night, store away from bed if possible and not under the blankets or on the body
  • for heat-sensitive antimicrobials, storing freezer packs next to the infusion (and changing when defrosted) may be required
  • avoid immersing the device in water
• how to care for the intravenous line and delivery device, for example:
  • the usual appearance and performance of the intravenous line should be demonstrated; any changes should be reported by the patient or carer to the service staff
  • how to recognise and what to do if the pump or delivery device malfunctions
  • avoid immersing the administration site in water (eg protect with a plastic bag or plastic cling wrap while washing).

Patients receiving ambulatory antimicrobial therapy should also have their satisfaction and outcomes measured by regular survey and auditLevine, 2021.